The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-12-21

not be improved by dwelling upon the theo
ries Of protection and free trade This savors
too much Of bandying epithets. 1t Is con
dition which confronts us-not theory
Relief from this condition may involve
a slight reduction Of the advantage
which we award our home productions
but the entire withdrawal Of such
advantages should not be contemplated. The
question Of free trade is absolutely irrelevant;
and the persistent claim made in certain quar-.
ters that all efforts to relieve the people from
un Just and unnecessary taxation are schemes
of o.called free traders, Is mischievous and
far removed from any consideration for the
public good.
The simple and plain duty which we owe the
people is to reduce taxation to the necessary
expenses of an economical operation of the
Government, and TO restore to the business OF
the country the money which we hold in the
treasury through the perversion of govern
mental powers. These things can and should
be done with safety to all our industries, with
out danger to the opportunity for remunera-
tive labor which our workingmen need, and
with benefit to them and all our people, by
cheapening their means of subsistence and
increasing the measure Of their comforts.
The Constitution provides that the Presi-
dent "shall, from time to time, give to the
Congress information Of the state of the
ecutiye, In compliance with this provision, to
annually exhibit to the Congress, at the
opening of its session, the general con-
dition Of the country, and to detail, with
some particularity, the operations Of the
different executive departments. 1t would
be especially agreeable to follow this course
at the present time, and to call atten-
tion to the valuable accomplishments OF
these, departments during the last fiscal
year But am 80 much impressed
with the paramount importance ths OF the
tion has thus far been devoted, that I shall
forego the addition Of any other topic, and
only urge upon your immediate considera-
ton the Estate of the Union" as shown in the
present condition of our treasury and our
general fiscal situation, upon which every
element of our safety and prosperity de-
pends.
The reports Of the heads Of departments,
which will be submitted. contains full and ex-
the business entrusted to them, and such
recommendations relating to legislation in the
public interest as they deem advisable. l ask
for these reports and Recommendations the de-
liberate examination and action Of the legisla.
tive branch of the Government.
There are other subjects not embraced In
the departmental reports demanding legislat-
i've consideration and which l should be glad
to submit. Some of them, however, have
been earnestly presented in previous messages.
ana as to them, beg leave to repeat prios
recommendations.
As the law makes no provision for any re-
port from the Department of State, q brief
history of the transactions of that important
department, together with other matters
which it may hereafter be deemed essential
to commend to the attention Of the Congress,
may furnish the occasion for future COM
munication. GROVER CLEVELAND.
Washington, Dec. 6, 1887.